For all of the Austin American-Statesman's Big 12, Texas A&M, Texas State and other college sports coverage, check out our beat writers' news, notes and random thoughts here all season long. On Twitter: @StatesmanU.

Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley received a big salary boost Tuesday to reward the young coach for such a successful debut season in Norman.

Riley now will make $4.8 million. When he replaced Bob Stoops last summer, Riley received an annual salary worth $3.1 million. But winning the Big 12, reaching the national semifinals and producing the Heisman winner and No. 1 player in the NFL draft certainly deserves a big bump.

“We recognize where a program wants to be, where it needs to be, the importance of continuity that, all of our staff, most notably our head coaches, and we try to do as much as we can to be as competitive as we can with the marketplace,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione told reporters after the school’s regents approved the new contract.

Riley still is only the fourth-highest paid coach in the Big 12.

Texas’ Tom Herman is believed to be No. 1 at $5.5 million. TCU’s Gary Patterson made $5.1 million in 2017, according to USA Today’s salary database. (Private schools don’t have to reveal contract details, but wages are found in the school’s tax returns). But Patterson told the American-Statesman that USA Today’s numbers usually are two to three years old.

Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy makes $5 million.

According to Diehards.com, the rest of the assistants also received nice raises:

Mike Stoops, defensive coordinator

2018 salary: $950,000
Raise from 2017: $30,000
Years on contract: 2

Bill Bedenbaugh, offensive line/co-offensive coordinator

2018 salary: $625,000
Raise from 2017: $90,000
Years on contract: 2

Ruffin McNeill, defensive tackles coach/assistant head coach

2018 salary: $570,000
Raise from 2017: $10,000
Years on contract: 2

Kerry Cooks, defensive backs /assistant defensive coordinator

2018 salary: $500,000
Raise from 2017: $25,000
Years on contract: 2

Cale Gundy, inside receivers/Recruiting coordinator

2018 salary: $500,000
Raise from 2017: $70,000
Years on contract: 2

Shane Beamer, tight ends/assistant head coach offense

2018 salary: $435,000
Raise from 2017: first year on the staff
Years on contract: 2

The Oakland A’s announced Friday that it had signed Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray to a lucrative baseball contract. However, the Sooner will be allowed to stick around Norman for one season to play football.

Murray, an outfielder who was the ninth pick of the Major League Baseball draft earlier this month, agreed to a contract with a signing bonus of $4.6 million.

He took batting practice with the A’s Friday afternoon and then was introduced at a press conference.

As I reported two days ago, the A’s officially have come to terms with top pick Kyler Murray. He will be at the Coliseum this afternoon to take BP on the field. Signing bonus roughly $4.6 million.

Kyler Murray has heard comparisons to Rickey Henderson. “Watched a lot of his film. He’s a great player. Great legend, obviously. But… I’m pretty confident in my own skills so hopefully, one day, (young fans) can be looking up to me.” pic.twitter.com/ws1tuPOPPa

Murray is vying to be Oklahoma’s starting quarterback this fall to replace Heisman winner Baker Mayfield.

He was a one-time five-star football prospect when he signed with Texas A&M in 2015. Murray transferred to Oklahoma in January, 2016. He was Mayfield’s backup last fall. He also played two seasons of baseball with the Sooners.

Matt Bragga (center) was hired by Rice to be its new baseball coach. Earlier this week, Bragga and Tennessee Tech were in town to play Texas in the NCAA super regionals.Travis(RALPH BARRERA / AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Matt Bragga, whose Tennessee Tech team lost to Texas in the NCAA super regionals earlier this week, will stay in the Lone Star State.

Rice announced Friday that Bragga will be its next baseball coach, replacing Wayne Graham.

Tennessee Tech, the best power-hitting team in the country, won a nation’s best 53 games this season.

“Matt Bragga is the right person to carry on the terrific legacy and national prominence of Rice baseball,” Rice athletic director Joe Karlgaard said in a statement to the media. “He has 19 years of head coaching experience and has driven success at multiple levels of college baseball. Everyone we spoke with said that the reason Tennessee Tech has been so successful in recent years is Matt’s ability to identify and develop talent, inspire young men and teach the game of baseball.

“His commitment to the development of the whole person in a fun and positive learning environment will enrich the lives of both current and future Rice baseball players.”

Graham, who is a member of the college baseball hall of fame, coached 27 years with the Owls. He led Rice to a national championship in 2003 and the team earned 21 conference titles. Graham, 82, was in his final year of his contract and Rice officials elected not to renew it.

Texas Tech players celebrate Monday after earning a trip to the College World Series. (Texas Tech athletics)

Texas Tech beat Duke Monday in Lubbock to give the Big 12 two teams in Omaha. The Red Raiders are the only men’s program to qualify both their basketball and baseball teams in the final eight.

Earlier in the day, Texas gave the Big 12 its first entry into the world series when the Longhorns knocked off Tennessee Tech in Austin to earn the Longhorns’ 36th trip to Omaha.

Tech held off the Blue Devils, 6-2, to clinch the best of three super regional to earn the Red Raiders their third trip to the CWS in the past five years. All the trips have come under the leadership of coach Tim Tadlock.

The Red Raiders pounded three homers Monday for their 44th victory of the season. Duke had been trying to qualify for its first world series since 1961.

Baylor fans, get ready to use Facebook for something more than posting photos or updates on your life.

The Bears’ road game against Texas-San Antonio, Sept. 8, will be live streamed by the social media giant.

Facebook is in its second year of live-streaming college football games. Facebook featured 15 games last season, nine from Conference USA and six from the Mountain West.

Conference USA unveiled its football television schedule, Thursday.

Kickoff for the game is set for 6 p.m.

The Bears lost to the Roadrunners in Waco last season, 17-10.

Facebook has been actively adding sports to its platform. It lost a bidding war for the rights to live stream NFL’s Thursday night football game. It also shows games with Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer along with CrossFit and surfing events.